Quench of ITER Poloidal Field Coils: Influence of some initiation parameters on thermo-hydraulic detection signals and main impact on cryogenic system

• Published in: Cryogenics (Guildford) 2013-01, Vol.53, p.86-93
• Main Authors: Nicollet, S., Bessette, D., Ciazynski, D., Coatanéa-Gouachet, M., Duchateau, J.-L., Lacroix, B., Rodriguez-Mateos, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cable-In-Conduit Conductors; Cryogenic quenching; Cryogenics; Deposition; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Field coils; Fusion magnets; Magnetic fields; Mathematical models; Quench; Refrigerating engineering. Cryogenics. Food conservation; Solenoids; Supercritical helium; Thermohydraulics; Voltage
• ISSN: 0011-2275; 1879-2235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cryogenics.2012.05.005

► We model two extreme cases of quench of PF5 coil and secondary quench detection. ► One difficult to detect with 1m length initiation at the middle of the conductor. ► The other is one pancake quench on the first turn, and the whole coil (40 pancakes). ► We present the Cryogenic Consequences. ► Such as pressure, temperature and mass flow at the feeders and relief valves. In case of a magnet quench, the primary quench detection system is classically based on voltage detection. In addition, a secondary quench detection is required and it could rely on signals of thermohydraulic nature. A model based on the coupled GANDALF [1] and FLOWER [2] codes has been developed in previous papers for the Central Solenoid [3,4], and for the Toroidal Field Coils [5,6] of ITER. This study focuses on Poloidal Field Coil PF5 as it has the highest magnetic field value along the conductor. Results of some parametric studies are presented and the influence of the initiation parameters of the quench (energy, location and length of heat deposition, time duration for detection). The possibility of a secondary thermohydraulic detection and the main impact on cryogenic system are analyzed and discussed.